Illinois Democrats select new party chairwoman

Posted on March 4, 2021
U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Matteson) succeeds former House Speaker Mike Madigan. (Dave Dahl/WJBC)

 

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Democrats chose U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Matteson) to be their new state party chairwoman. A narrow victory – 51.65 percent to 48.35 percent – over Chicago Ald. Michelle Harris capped a Zoom meeting of the state central committee in which both candidates were Black women.

Kelly succeeds former House Speaker Mike Madigan, who was chair for 23 years. One member, State Sen. Cristina Castro (D-Elgin), noted that most of the money the organization brought in had been going to the other chamber anyway.

Speaking of fund-raising, a legal opinion that Kelly, as a congresswoman, would be barred from raising money in non-federal races was one reason for the support behind Harris. Kelly said regardless of who is doing it – money can and will be raised.

Both candidates had high-profile support: Gov. JB Pritzker for Harris and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) for Kelly.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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